AN EASTERN European charity worker visiting Teesside was shocked at the level of poverty he found in this country.

Sasha Chernitsky feeds about 150 needy families five days a week at his soup kitchen in Minsk, Belarus.

He was invited to Teesside by Chernobyl Children’s Relief, to share his work with churches and help raise the charity’s profile.

Sasha witnessed the work of his Teesside counterparts at a luncheon club for the homeless run by Wendy Brading and Ann Simpson in Thorntree, Middlesbrough.

He said: “I was very surprised England has homeless people. I never expected this.

“In England more people here have mental health problems and drugs and alcohol. In Belarus the homeless are mostly ordinary people who may have no jobs and have hit the bottom of life.”

Sasha started working with Belarus street kids about 15 years ago - many victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster. At one point he was caring for 26 of them, with no Government payments and little support from elsewhere.

He started a soup kitchen for Minsk street kids once a week which quickly grew to five days a week and was soon attended by homeless adults as well.

A change in Government policies in Belarus has seen the number of street kids reduced, but Sasha is still kept busy feeding hundreds of homeless families.

A talented artist, he also paints during the early hours to sell his pictures to raise more cash for his shelter.

Teesside aid workers Ted Strike, Dave Bagley and Richard Maygor, have helped families living in the aftermath of the 1986 disaster for years and met Sasha in Easter 2007.

Ted, of Ingleby Barwick, said Sasha’s visit aimed to raise the profile of homeless people both in Belarus and here on Teesside.

He said: “My challenge to all churches and local politicians is this - what are they doing about the homeless?

“This man, Sasha, is dedicating his life to these people. But a lot of Christians get too complacent and sit back in their churches.”

For more information on the charity or to donate, call Ted Strike on 07957 952454.